Man 'beheads' protected swan before taking it home to EAT

POLICE are hunting for a man who allegedly beheaded a swan before taking it home to eat.

A man allegedly beheaded a swan at a lake before taking it home to eat [GETTY]

The man, was caught on camera by a fishing pal of local wildlife lover Steve Robinson last week, who immediately handed the image to the police.

Mr Robinson claims the man was seen stuffing the lifeless body of a swan into his red and black rucksack at 18-acre Bennett's Lake in Hildenbough, Kent.

Mr Robinson said: "This b*****d is killing swans in the Tonbridge area, here he is after putting one in his bag.”

The killer is believed to have enticed the bird out of the water with breadcrumbs.

Is this the man who beheaded a swan? [TWITTER / STEVE ROBINSON]

This b*****d is killing swans in the Tonbridge area, here he is after putting one in his bag

Twitter user Steve Robinson

Mr Robinson said a friend of his was fishing at the popular lake when he spotted the man attack the swan last Tuesday at around 4pm, cutting its head off at the bottom of the neck so it would fit in his rucksack.

He said he rushed over to him to tell him to stop, but that it was too late and the swan had been decapitated and put in the rucksack.

Mr Robinson said the man “ran off” when he realised he had been rumbled.

Kent Police confirmed it is investigating reports of a swan being beheaded and stolen at Bennett's Lake last week, but said no arrests have yet been made.

There is some confusion over his nationality after locals said he appeared to sound Eastern European.

A spokesman said the suspect at first pretended to speak little English when challenged by someone who saw the alleged swan attack.

The suspect than later spoke very good English and in the crime report there was no reference to him appearing to sound Eastern European.

The killer is believed to have enticed the bird out of the water with breadcrumbs [GETTY]

He added: "The offender is described as aged 20-30 and 5ft 8ins tall. He was wearing a red and black jacket, blue tracksuit bottoms with three black stripes and grey trainers.

"Carrying a red and black bag."

Local Alan Matt wrote on Twitter: "I've read that eating swans is normal in Romania. We used to here! (In medieval times) Hope he's caught!"